100 K competition

In the recently completed one day international cricket series between West Indies and NZ, (2-2 for those who care with a match cancelled due to rain) a local beer company Tui, world famous in NZ (L&P slogan. A friend was convinced it was the right mix of coke and sprite) for its slogan ... yeah right ran a promotion Catch a Million competition. The premise was simple. 10 opportunities to earn 100 000 dollars if you wore a hideous orange shirt with a bullseye on it and were in the crowd for the one day international. The company was putting up one million dollars if somebody in the crowd wearing the requisite aforementioned shirt caught a six from the batsman outside the boundary area with one hand.

The Queenstown match was a good match to be at with the world record fastest hundred and the six fastest hundred sprinkled generously with sixes. A man dropped his young child at another match in order to make an attempt but it came down to the final match in Hamilton, where one lucky man positioned himself perfectly in the crowd and took a comfortable one handed catch and earned himself a cool hundy for a cool one handy:

When you think about it, it's quite good value for the company Tui. 100 000 dollars in advertising and you generate a lot of media attention for yourself. Much more effective than a 30 second spot on the television.

So I wonder if the idea could take off in rugby. A company might view the upcoming Six Nations or RWC as an opportunity to try something similar. The trick is what would it be. The idea of catching a six with one hand is high in the difficulty stakes but remarkably common but suitably rare enough for the company (who no doubt might have insurance against paying out too much) not to shell out too much.

I think in rugby a ball kicked into the crowd fits that bill. It happens but not so much that the company is bricking itself during the match. You could have a similar concept that you must catch the ball with one arm (being able to use the body as support). Cricket in NZ is a relatively pleasant experience usually with grassed embankments safe to run around in to position yourself for the catch. To prevent people from lunging or leaping five rows to catch a ball, you could stipulate that you must stay in your row and can only lean over another row and if you fall backwards or forwards in order to catch the ball the catch becomes null and void.

What other ideas could you think of as a competition for rugby?

One arm catch is hard when in a crowd. Its hard anywhere. Two hands should be allowed but good idea. Also did you say you have to be wearing something in particular? The IRFU could adopt this as a novel way to get Munster fans to wear Ireland jerseys to Ireland games rather than Munster ones.

That was part of the conditions GG for this comp. I imagine Tui made the shirts and made money on those sales for all those who attended the games. Two hands might be easy but if everyone around you is going for it, say dressed in an Ireland shirt, it could increase the difficulty level. Might see the prize money go down if you make it too easy. One hand to catch a ball coming at you quite hard and fast is a daunting prospect for the uninitiated. Catching rugby ball is very difficult to dislocate a finger so everyone will have a go.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. How many times have you sprained a thumb/finger trying to catch a rugby ball. I have done it millions of times which is why I would prefer two hands. Used to hate it sooooooooo much.

To catch with one hand you need to use your body as you say. By the time it reaches that height someone else may have grabbed it.

I must have soft hands. Never was a problem for me.  

You can use one hand to bring it down to your body. We don't want short people winning this competition. Then again they might scavenge the ball after a tall person brings it down to his / her chest. A parent might also lift their child up or a girlfriend might sit on her boyfriend's shoulders.

A bit of lineout lifting in the crowd might work. Im 6'4 so would fancy my chances.

All it takes when catching in traffic is someone to move your hand slightly and its stubbed. I was an OH, sometimes centre or FB so had to catch a fair bit.

Depressing for the kiwi cricketers to see someone both achieve something they're unlikely to in their career AND earn more money ...